Blank-form book.



A. M. SINCLAIR.

BLANK FORM BOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTCJJTHOH WASHINGTON, Dv C.

ALEXANDER 1VI. sINoL-AIR, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNoR r0 HoorER v. v. sINoLAIR,

- OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BLANK-FORM BOOK.

Application filed May 20, 1914;. Serial No. 839,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER M. SIN- CLAIR, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blank- Form Books, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to blank-form books and the object of the invention is to provide a book or pad of blank forms such forexample, as bonds, certificates, checks, notes, receipts, vouchers or other forms, the inclividual sheets of which are so bound together.

as to permit ready removal in regular order from the top of the pad, but which do not permit removal in integral condition of any intermediate sheet outside of its regular order.

Anembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and will be more fully described hereinafter and finall In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 isa plan-view of a blank-form book embody- I ing my invention, Fig. 2 is a side-view of the article shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view with several of the upper sheets removed, and one sheet shown in the course of being removed, Fig.4; is avertical transverse section on line 4.4L, Fig. 1, on a larger scale, and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 55 of Fig. 1, Fig 6 represents an enlarged longitudinal section of one form of cord clutch used for holding the adjustable locking cord of this pad.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the blank form book consists of a pad composed of a pile of superposed successively separable sheets which may consist of bonds, certificates of stock, checks, notes, receipts, vouchers or other forms. The individualsheets 10 are placed on top of one another and provided with a suitable binding. In the form illustrated the binding consists of an exterior band 15 of muslin or other suitable material, which is cemented to the edges of said sheets and extends from the'point 16 along the sides 17 across the end 18, and along the side 19 to the point 20.

The pile or pad of the blank formv sheets is provided with a protectivedevice which Specification of Letters Patent.

device comprises a thread which maybe composed of wire, gut, twine or other flexible material. '1 In such embodiment this thread contains within itself the holding means for the successive top sheets, being formed into a loop for that purposefi" One bodiment herein illustrated this protective leg 21 of this loop is-passed through the hole 50 which extends-from the bottom to the top' of the pad through the superposed series of sheets 10 at a point where said perforation or hole'does not interfere with the written or printed matter. -The other leg 23 of said loop extends downward through the'hole or perforation 55 disposed adjacent to said hole '50 and also at a point of non-interference with the written or printed matter. The

top 22 of the loop" overlies the top sheet spanning the spaces between said holes. Underneath the bottom of the pad one end 21 of the thread is connected with any suitable locking device27 which maybe a oneway clutchand the other end isconnected with an automatic oneway clutch 28.: The

bottom of the pad-comprises two layers of material, a thick layer or false-bottom and a thin layer or base 25. The thick layer located the locking devices 27 and 28 one of which is illustrated in Fig. 6, being a oneway clutch such as those commonly. employed for fastening scarf pins. One limb,

' 21 of the thread'pass'es through one of these clutches, and the other limb 23 passes tion that a pull on the ends of the thread will move the thread through the clutch,'but

a pull on the loop 22 will be resisted and the thread prevented by the clutches from movement. After leaving the clutches, the thread continues on out of the recess 26, the part 21 passing out through a longitudinal bore 31 24 is'provided with a recess 26 in which are i through the other clutch, both in such direcin the false-bottom, and the other part 23 passing out through a similar bore 32. Beyond the pad are left exposed, flying ends 33, 34, by which the cord may be drawn from time to time during use of the pad so as to always keep at the top of the pad a loop of the desired size. These ends are secured detachably to a button 40 or other suitable device at-the end of the pad. The clutches are contained in the recess in a suitable metal tray or box 35. The threads pass through suitable openings in the ends of the box and are thereby guided, so as to move easily when pulled.

By the arrangement of the cord through all the different sheets of the pad, any intermediate sheet may not be removed without showing the fact that it has been surreptitiously removed. Those sheets that have been legitimately successively removed at the top of the pad show only a very small slot, as, for instance, the slot shown in Fig. 3 and indicated by 43, whereas, when an intermediate sheet is removed, a tear takes place in the sheet extending to the margin thereof. The cord which is adjustable to the gradually reduced thickness of the pad may be provided with any equivalent of the loop or bi ght which will hold the top sheet and permit the removal of successive top sheets with the formation of a mere slot or hole therein and which will prevent the removal of intermediate sheets without the formation of a tear or slit extending to the edge thereof and any one can immediately recognize the fact that the removal was not authorized.

, It will be observed that the clutches are not of the full length of the box 35. This permits a movement of the clutches in the box. The object of this construction is to enable the user of the pad to detect whether the same has been tampered with. Assuming that a person desiring to abstractintermediate sheets first cuts both limbs of the cord, at the point where the sheets are to be taken out. He then removes the sheets,

' and then places paste or glue on the cut ends of the cord, and surrounding the same on the blanks, so that the portion of cord above the cut is held against removal, and the portion below the cut is likewise held, and to all outward appearances the pad is in normal condition. When the user tests the loop 22 and the cord-ends 33 and 34 by pulling on them, however, there is no movement, because the loop and the cord are held within the pad by the glue by which they have been fastened. When the device is in normal condition, limited movement of both the loop and the cord-ends is permitted, by the play of the clutches from end to end of the box 35. The user now finding no such movement, knows that the cord has been tampered with somewhere between the loop 7 ing the successive top sheets,

and the free ends. An examination of the consecutive leaves of the pad will show where the unauthorized removal has been made. As an additional security for the stub-end of the pad, the same may have staples 41, of wire, therein, near the end, binding all the sheets together.

I have shown one embodiment of the invention, but it is clear that changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pad of the character described comprising a pile of superposed successively separable sheets, a binding for said sheets, and a supplementary protective device which permits the removal of successive top sheets with the formation of a mere closed slot therein and prevents the withdrawal of intermediate sheets without causing a tear or slit which extends to the margin thereof, said protective device comprising a thread passing through said sheets, said thread having means for engaging the successive top sheets, and a oneway clutch underneath said pile through which said thread is passed and whereby a taut connection of said thread with the successive top sheets may be maintained. I

2. A pad of the character described com posed of a pile of superposed successively separable sheets having two holes extending through it, a binding for said sheets, and a supplementary protective device which comprises a cord secured at one end, passed upward through one of said holes, over the top of said pile between said holes and downward through the other hole, and a oneway clutch which engages the other end of said cord below said pile and permits the tightening of the loop formed by said cord after successivce detachments of successive top sheets.

3. A pad of the character described comprising a pile of superposed successively separable sheets having holes extending through it, a binding for said sheets, and a supplementary protective device which comprises a loop of flexible material passed through said holes and having its closed end spanning the space between them in direct contact with the top sheet, and means for locking the ends of said loop, said means permitting the tightening of said loop after successive removals of the top sheets.

4. A pad of the character described comprising a pile of superposed successively separable sheets, a base provided with a recess and with a bore extending therefrom to the exterior, a thread passing through said sheets, through said recess and through said bore, said thread having means for engagand means for holding said thread means in taut relation to said top sheets, said holding means including a oneway thread clutch disposed in said recess and engaging one end of said thread beneath said pile and operative to permit the tightening of said thread after detachments of successive top sheets.

5. A pad of the character described comprising a pile of superposed successively separable sheets having holes extending through it, a binding for said sheets, and a supplementary protective device composed of a cord passed twice through all the sheets and forming a loop exposed on the top sheet and free ends underneath said pile, oneway locking clutches on said free ends respectively, meansfor securing said clutches in place at the bottom of said pile, said clutches having limited longitudinal movement with' the cord, and means for guiding said cord, the free ends of said cord extending to the exterior of the pad. 7

6. A pad of the character described comprising a pile of superposed successively Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, I). G.

separable sheets having holes extending r r 25 through it, a binding for said sheets, and a supplementary protective device which permits the removal of successive top sheets with the formation of a mere closed slot therein and preventsthe withdrawal of intermediate sheets without causing a tear or slit extending to the margin thereof, said protective device including a loop of flexible material passed through said holes and having its closed end spanning the space between them in direct contact with the top sheet, and two oneway clutches engaging the opposite ends of said loop and opera- 7 tive to permit the tightening thereof after detachments of successive top sheets.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name. in presence of two subscribing witnesses. ALEXANDER M. SINCLAIR. Witnesses: V EDW. C. SoHIFFMAoHER, O. ARTHUR LEVI.

Commissioner of Patents, I 

